Audi sales rise 3% in February on strong Europe demand

FRANKFURT -- Audi's global sales rose 3.3 percent to 126,500 vehicles last month as strong demand in Europe following the launch of the new A4 helped to offset slower sales in China and the U.S.

Sales increased 8.1 percent to 65,150 in Europe, including a 12 percent surge to 28,507 in Audi's home market of Germany.

Audi's U.S. deliveries rose 2.3 percent to 11,718, while China volume was up 1.3 percent to 34,152.

Two-month deliveries were up 3.6 percent to 269,650, the automaker said in a statement today.

Audi said it has already received more than 130,000 orders for its latest-generation A4, its top-selling car globally. The new A4, a rival to the BMW 3 series and Mercedes C class, launched in Europe last autumn and will go on sale in the U.S. in the spring.